Flat Tire
 

Heard a thumping noise from the right rear as I was pulling into the garage at work this morning. Sure sounded like a flat but when I checked I couldn't tell if the tire was low or not and there was no warning on the dash. Leaving for home this evening, the tire was visibly low and when I started the car the flat tire warning came on. I stopped at a Goodyear Store about 2 blocks from my office and they found a bolt the size of my thumb had penetrated the tire! Said they could try and fix it, but because of the size of the bolt couldn't guarantee it would take and warned that they could damage the wheel in the process of getting the tire off. Didn't make me feel comfortable about having them try and fix it.

I was 50 plus miles from home and at their suggestion, I had them put more air into the tire, you could hear it hissing out from where the bolt was, and headed for home up highway 95 trying hard to hold it to 50. I made it home without incident.

Now I have to consider my options. I was in the market for new tires (and wheels) and was considering non-RFTs, but after today, I see their value. I have no issues with the ride or grip so the only motivation for non-RFTs is price. Roughly half the cost of OEM replacement Bridgestones. I could replace just the one bad tire, but that's kind of short sighted so I could replace just the rears. But the fronts have the most wear. If I replace all 4, it will end up costing about $2000 installed and I won't be getting new wheels for awhile.

As I said, non-RFT's would be about $1200, but I keep thinking about what I would have done today if I didn't have RFT's.

Any recommendations on RFT's other than Bridgestone?

There are a lot of used tires available in your area fairly cheap in price. They are always popping up on Ebay or Craigslist. Buy one good used one, & save the money for your new wheels. You can probably pick up the tire to inspect it, for around 125.00 or less. I have had less flats on my car, without the run-flats. They pick up more nails & screws than any tire I have ever owned!

Good Luck!

You now have a few RF choices but there is not a lot of info out there as they are all relatively new.

I would go to TireRack and read some of the customer reviews.

Available RF choices are now:
Pirelli P Zero Run Flat $1,600
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT DSST $1,650
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT $1,600
Michelin Primacy HP ZP $1,750
Goodyear Excellence RunOnFlat $1,700

The last two are grand touring tires, the rest are proper performance summers.

+1

My '12 came with Dunlop RFTs. After they wore out I went to non-RFTs and hated the handling (the lack of reinforced tire walls made the drive feel "squishy" is the best way I can put it).

I went to Bridgestone Potenza RFTs and am very happy.